Published 17:19 IST, March 9th 2022

Russia demands explanation from US over alleged biological programmes in Ukraine

Russia along with its close ally China has levelled serious allegations against the US and claimed that it has biological programmes in Ukrainian labs.

Reported by: Shloak Prabhu
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Russian Federation along with its close ally China has levelled serious allegations against United States and claimed that it has biological programmes in Ukrainian laboratories. Following allegations, Russia's Foreign Ministry has now slammed Washington and sought an explanation. This also comes after Chinese Foreign Ministry too alleged that " United States controls labs in at least 30 countries including Ukraine". 

" United States must explain biological programmes in Ukraine," said Russia's Foreign Ministry.

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'US is developing biological weapons': Russia and China 

Amid ongoing war following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russia and China have repeatedly attacked United States. In a major development, both countries have now levelled serious allegations against Washington and claimed that United States is 'developing biological weapons' in laboratories in Ukraine. statement was me by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova and was later echoed by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

Russia, expressing concern over same remarked that biological weapons were being developed "in direct proximity to Russian territory". In dition, it also avered that Ukrainian government was "found to have been concealing" traces of a military biological programme that was funded by United States Department of Defence. 

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On or hand, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian during an dress claimed that Washington controls 336 labs in 30 countries under its control, including "26 in Ukraine alone". refore, China also has demanded that United States should provide a full account of its biological military activities at home and abro which will be subject to multilateral verification. 

Earlier on Sunday, Russia also claimed that Ukrainian government emergency destruction of pathogens at US-funded laboratories near Russian border. Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed that se pathogens included plague and anthrax. Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov on Sunday claimed that Russia’s military forces found evidence of a US-financed military biological programme that was being developed in Ukraine. He h accused Ukrainian government of taking hasty measures to conceal any traces of military biological programme amid war. Meanwhile,  US on Tuesday mitted that Ukraine houses “biological research facilities”. 

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Image: AP/Unsplash

17:19 IST, March 9th 2022